Sheet metal lever



July 11, 1933. w T, HUNT 1,917,715

SHEET METAL LEVER Filed Jan. 18, 1930 IN VEN TOR.

BY W TM Patented July 11, 1933 wean-en e. HUNT, F

ronnno, 01110, ASSIGNOR T0 run wILLYsov'snn-inn 00.. or

TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION CEOEIZO 1 V 'sHnnrirETAL LEVER,

Application filed JanuarylS, 1930. Serial No. $21,797;

This'invention relates to lever and more particularly to levers which are formed from sheet metal and usually known as stampings.

One of the objects of the invention is to 5 provide a lever that is'rigid and cheap to manufacture. V I

Another object of the invention is to provide asheet metal lever which may be easily clamped upon an operating shaft.

La Other objects will appear from the description to follow, in connection with which I dt'tl b t ftl nave 11 us 1a or two on oc mcn s o l in vent-ion in the accompanylng drawing, in which.

1 .5 Figure I is a side view of the improved lever shown in position on a portion of an operating shaft.

Fig. II is a rear view of the lever shown in Figure I.

Fig. III is a side View of a modified form of a lever embodying the invention.

Fig. IV is a rear view of the lever shown in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a is is... v v of Fig. 111.

Referring to the form shown in Figures I and II, is a U-shaped lever formed from a single piece of sheet L metal, the sides 12 and 14 being bent to normally lie substantiala ly parallel to each other, andwith the web pm'tion 16 connecting the sides at the bottom of the U. Neb portion 16 may, if desired, extend along one side of the lever, 10 for substantially its entire length, but Iprefer the periphery of the lever in order to eliminate difficulties in manufacturing and permit the upper ends of the lever to be unsupported.

The sides 12 and 14: are provided with 1) aligned holes 22 and 2s, which are slightly larger in diameter than the operating rod 26. Adpic-cnt web 16 are provlded aligned holes Band for the reception of a clevis pm 28to which is pivotally attached the operating rod 30. The upper ends of sides 12 and 1e; are provided witha bolt having a nut 34 which is used to force the sides 12 and 14 toward each otherand out of their normal parallel position. A key 36 interlocking with both lever 10 and shaft 26 is also used to prewhich may be easily done,

sectional view taken along the the lever 5t with vent relative rotative movement between the two members. I

In assembling lever 10 to the shaft 26, the lever is slipped overtheend of the shaft "because of the aligned holes 22 and 2 being slightly greater than the shaft 26, and pushed to its-desired position as shown in Fig. II. Bolt 32 is then tightened, be forced out of parallel and to be convergent toward their upper ends, the bottom being held in spaced relation by the web 16. The distortion of the sides 12 and I l causes the holes 22 and 24 to be thrown out of alignment and their inner edges to closely grip the shaft 26 and lock the lever in position.

slight wedge-shaped clearance will occur at the upper side of the lever as indicated by 38 in Fig. II but'which is immaterial as the gripping of sufficient for locking the lever in position.

.Refcrriugto the form shown in Figs. III, IV and V, sides 40 and 42 are connected by a web as and stop lugs d6 and 48 are formed intermediate the web l land shaft 26 for preventing the inward movement of the lower portion of sides -10 and 4-2, which form Lugs 46 and d8 are preferably formed by inwardly striking portions on the sides lO and 4-2 and are of such length asto allow the lower portions of sides be parallel when the lugs are in position. The lever in the same manner as lever 10 and when the bolt 32 is tightened the upper ends of sides 40 and 42 will be forced out of parallel and clamp lever upon the shaft 26. In this form of the invention the side portions between the lugs and the web will be pa 'allel in the clamped position and all the distortions an abutting which causes sides 12 and 14k to the inner edges has been found 50 is assembled to the shaft 26 l0 and d2 to will occur in the unsupported portions above the lugs.

anddescription are ilustrative only and that I do not regard my invention as limited to the form shown and described except wherein I have included such limitations within the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lever formed of sheet metal blank having aligned shaft receiving openings and sides normally parallel, a web connecting said sides, portions of the sides adjacent the shaft receiving holes being unsupported; means for forcing the sides out of parallelism adjacent the openings, portions of the side walls of the lever being struck up laterally, said struck up portions adapted for engagement to limit the movement of the sides; and a second pair of substantially aligned openings adjacent the Web portion adapted to re ceive connecting means. e

2. In a lever formed from a sheet metal blank having sides normally parallel throughout their length, an integral web connecting the sides; a pair of aligned holes adjacent the web for receiving a pivotal member; a pair of aligned holes for receiving a shaft;

rectangular key ways in the parallel arms of said lever adjacent and intersecting the shaft receiving holes, said keyways adapted to re ceive a member carried by the shaft, said sides being supported adjacent the shaft receiving holes; and means for forcing out of parallelism the portions of the lever sides which contain the shaft receiving holes.

3. A lever formed from a sheet metal blank having U-shape with normally parallel sides throughout their length, said sides having elements in circular openings for receiving a shaft; means including a bolt arranged substantially parallel with the axis of said shaft for forcing the sides out of parallelism to retain the lever to said shaft, a portion of the side walls of the lever being struck up laterally and adapted for engagement to limit the movement of the sides.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

WARREN T. HUNT. 

